NIKE and January's Practice in Ione!

Nor-Cal Chapter DOWNUNDER BRUMBIES PRACTICE: It is Saturday January 16, 2016 and it is the first official practice of the Nor-Cal Chapter of The Downunder Brumbies. It is also the first “official” practice that Nike has been to! Today we are off to Ed Hughes Memorial Arena and are looking forward to a great session. There will be new horses and new faces at this session which is good for Nike to experience. Practices are structured so she’ll get her fill of groundwork and under saddle time (Nike’s #10 ride with us) as well as standing quietly, safely tied. We are also having a video shot today! Nike’s original human needs the practice for her college portfolio and The Downunder Brumbies could use a promotional video. So it is a win-win for everyone! In short it will be a full day for our young lady!

            We rolled in about 9:30am and the arena was buzzing! Ed Hughes Memorial Arena was PACKED with all sorts of people today. We had the Lopes-like-tail-is-on-FIRE club, a 4H group, several different lesson groups and of course The Downunder Brumbies. Everyone got along and folks were being courteous. We even shared some horsemanship tips! We had TEN (10) horse/human teams and three (3) auditors. Everyone did great! Nike was a rock star throughout the groundwork session and got to show off her lateral/vertical flexion and her leading from beside skills. Our practice leader (a Nor-Cal Chapter President) Denise V. asked to work with Nike under saddle. Nike was a tad unsure about the “new person” but with Squeeze, Cluck, Spank the two were moving out nicely. Lots of bending work and trotting! Then she got to work with her first human – Rose – who was filming the session! We couldn’t let these two NOT share some saddle time. Rose really got to see how far we have been able to help Nike develop in the short time she has been in our care. It was a good experience for everyone! Cows. Yes, cows are still on Nike’s “don’t trust them” list but she did get closer to them since her herd buddies Ronan and Argent were all about checking them out (Ronan wanted to play with them SO bad)! We wrapped up the day playing on some obstacles and ended on WINS. It is days like today that make all the sweat, concern, frustration and sheer work worth it. Very proud of Nike

It was a good day. Now...food and a LONG hot tub soak!